Merseytravel confident about "super-port" impact on roads

Despite a huge expansion of the Port of Liverpool, transport authority Merseyside is confident that major road-links will not become congested.

It made the claim amidst early worries that the £500 million expansion of the Seaforth site could be detrimental to other drivers.

Over the next 20 years, up to 7,500 jobs - including logistics recruitment vacancies - will make the Mersey docks the "super port of the north," LiverpoolEcho.co.uk reports. Early forecasts estimate that growth through the port will increase by 70 per cent from 39.6 million tonnes in 2008 to 68.6 million tonnes by 2030.

Providing that medium-to-long-term plans are laid for the surrounding road infrastructure, there should not be any problems with the port's bright future, said Merseytravel.

"While transport improvements are required in the medium to long term none are required in the short term," it said. Merseytravel also anticipated that other forms of transport will be used (aside roads) to deliver goods, should businesses encourage this.

"We feel that strong encouragement is needed to ensure that as many containers as possible are transferred onwards to their destination by sustainable transport such as short-sea shipping, inland waterways and rail rather than road."

However, it recognises that without investment, the port could have "major implications for congestion, air quality and other pollution issues".

CrosbyHerald.co.uk states that Dunnings Bridge Road, which is the main route from the Seaforth site to the motorway network, is currently one of the busiest roads in Europe.

Sefton council has launched a port access study to investigate the potential impact in more detail.